Emerald Ash Borer Update

Emerald Ash Borer Status Report

Due to the fact that the Indiana Department of Natural Resource has confirmed that the Emerald Ash Borer has been found in Allen County, the county is now under quarantine. The quarantine prohibits transporting any ash products such as trees, logs, untreated lumber with the bark attached and any firewood, except pine, or composted wood chips or bark chips that are an inch or longer out of Allen County.

The Department of Natural Resource is asking the public to report evidence of the Emerald Ash Borer by calling the exotic insect education coordinator at Purdue University (888-398-4636) or the Department of Natural Resource invasive species hotline at 1-866-663-9684. For more information  about the Emerald Ash Borer and the Asian Lady Beetle  CLICK HERE. A map from the DNR is now available on the quarantined counties.  

Check out the Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan  for additional information.

Help Us Bring The Tree Canopy Back

Check out how you can help with the Emerald Ash Borer by checking out the Emerald Ash Borer Flyer. 



Ash Tree Identification 


THE CITY OF FORT WAYNE HAS BEEN ATTACKED - well, actually the upper Midwest is under attack by a tiny insect that is destroying our Ash tree population. Michigan was hit first -- and hit hard. A large portion of their native Ash population has been killed by the Emerald Ash Borer. Entire neighborhoods lost their beautiful tree-lined streets, which also affected their property values and utility costs. 

That is why it's so important that we identify our Ash trees and try to save what we can. The White Ash (Fraxinus Americana) and the Green Ash (fraxinus Pennsylvanica) are easily identified by the bark on their trunks. It has a distinctive diamond pattern that flows throughout the entire tree. 

Ash trees are one of the few trees in our urban forest that have opposite branching structure. The limbs grow opposite each other. To visualize, hold your arms out from your torso. The arms are like the branches that extend opposite each other from your trunk! Most trees are alternately branched, this means that the limbs do not grow directly across from one another.    

Finally, Ash trees have compound leaves and the leaflets also grow opposite each other. The edges of the leaves may be either toothed or smooth. 

If you still need help identifying your tree, you can photograph the tree and its bark, leaves, form and branching from different viewpoints. You can compare your pictures to Ash tree identification on the web at www.EmeraldAshBorer.info/identifyashtree.cfm

Signs/Symptoms of Emerald Ash Borer:

  

Excess sprouting on trunk

Crown dieback

Bark splitting

S-shaped larval tunnels

D-shaped exit holes 1/8" in diameter

Increased woodpecker activity

Adult beetles are 1/2" long

Larvae under the bark




Emerald Ash Borer Treatment Program

As of 2012 The City of Fort Wayne is now in its 6^th  The Emerald Ash Borer management plan is an integrated plan that includes treatment of a portion of the ash trees and removal and replacement of those trees that have been compromised beyond the scope of treatment.The type of treatment being used throughout the City is called soil injection.  The product being used is a safe and dependable product that has been on the market for years.  It is safe to use in municipal settings around people and pets.  The treatment for the Ash trees in the right of way along the streets was completed on April 15^th, 2011. 

Are you wondering if the Ash Tree on your street (in the public right of way) is on the current Ash Tree removal list?  Check out the following: 2012 Ash Removal List 

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